Signal switch



Patented Feb. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL SWITCH Frank J. Reddick, Newberry, S. C.

Application October 7, 1943, Serial No. 505,347

(Cl. 20o-155) 4 Claims.

My invention relates to electrically operated signaling devices for railroad crossings, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved switch.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the switch;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a face view of a rotary switch element;

Figure 4 isa face View of a stationary terminal body which rotatably carries the switch element of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a contact bar; and l Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of an electric circuit illustrating two of the switches incorporated therein.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the switch I6 of Figures 1 and 2 comprises a stationary body I2 of insulating material in which terminal screws I4, I6, I8 and 20 are anchored. A conductor bar 22 electrically connects the terminal screws I4 and I6. Extending upwardly from the upper face of the body I2 is an annular rib 24 having four high points 26 and four low points 28. The terminal screws I4, I6, I8 and 26 extend through the annular rib 24 and are spaced ninety degrees apart, with the heads 30 of the terminal screws respectively located at the low points 28.

The body I2 is provided with a central opening 32 for loosely receiving a long bolt 34 extending through an opening 36 in a switch element 38 comprising two arms 39 of insulating material and notched at 40 for intertting engagement and arranged ninety degrees apart. A washer 42 is interposed between the head 44 of the'bolt 34 and the switch element 38. Upon the bolt 34 is mounted a compression spring 46 engaging a washer 43 lying against the body I2 and a washer 5] supported by lock nuts 52 threadedly connected with the bolt. The bolt 34 is located at the axis of the annular rib 24.

The arms 39 lie in a common plane and each is provided with two V-shaped faces 54 arranged to ride on the annular rib 24. `To one of the arms 39 is secured a conductor plate 56 having end formations 58 tting the two V-shaped faces 54 on that arm. Pins 60 secure the plate 56 to its respective arm 36. The end formations 58 are arranged for engagement with the terminals I4 and I8 or I6 and 2B, depending upon the position of the switch element 38.

In operation, two switches I0 are employed for a crossing. The terminals I4 and I6 of, each switch I0 are electrically connected with an electrically operated signal 62, as by wires 64.. The terminals I8 of the two switches are electrically connected by a wire 66, and a wire 68 electrically connects the two terminals 20. The wires 66 ,and 66 are electrically connected with a source of current T6, as by wires I2 and 'I4 which may be lugged to the wires. 68 and 6.6, respectively.

The switch element 38y is rotated through movement of the engine in its passage across the signal switch. This is accomplished through the medium of levers on opposite sides of the engine and under the control of the engineer. Such devices are old and well-known in the art.

Because of the ascending and descending contour of the rib 24, a one-eighth turn of the switch element 38 causes the latter to make a quarter turn, since the spring 46 will cause the switch element 32 to continue rotation as the end formations 58 pass over the high points.

In Figure 4'7, the signal circuit is open, with the two conductor plates 56 engaging the terminal screws I4 and I8 of their respective switches I6. As the switch element 38 of either switch is rotated to bring the conductor 56 of that switch into engagement with the terminal screws I6 and z21'! of that switch, the circuit will be closed through the signal 62, and the signal circuit will be broken when the switch element 38 of the other switch IIJ has been rotated to bring its conductor plate 56 out of engagement with the terminal screws I6 and 2l).

Electrical devices other than the signal 62 may be connected with the terminals I8 and 26 without interfering with the signal circuit.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate my invention, that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. In a switch of the type described, an insulative body having an annular iiange provided with an undulating top surface having four high points and four low points respectively positioned between the high points, first, second, third and fourth terminals anchored to said body and exposed at the low points of said flange,` said rst and second terminals being electrically connected one with the other, said body being provided vwith an opening located at the axis of said flange, said high and low points being respectively spaced i forty-live degrees apart about the axis of said opening, a switch element comprising arms having V-shaped portions and crossing in right anone of the arms andrhaving end formations fitting in the V-shaped portions and engageable with the Vfirst and third terminals in one position of the switch element and with the second and fourth terminals in another position of the switch element, and resilient means acting on said body and said shaft to yieldingly hold the switch element in engagement with said flange',

` gular relationship and having a shaft extending Y through said opening, a conductor attached to v Therinvention described inrclaim 1 wherein said crossed arms are of insulating material `and fitting one with the other to lie in a common plane, with each arm having edge formations en- `gageable with said annularsflange.

3. In a' switch of the type designed for us with railway crossings having an electrically ener- 2,394,481 n i Y tact elements at the-'low points, a pivoted mem-`V ber Vhaving crossed arms carried on the base member and spring pressed to have pressing contact therewith, said arms having V-shaped portions diametrically opposed to keach other and circumferentially aligned with the annular ange, a contact element carried byy the pivoted element and Vhaving terminal formations-*fitting the V- shaped portions tovprovid'e a camming surface to' move said pivoted element automatically to a position making or ybreaking the circuit when initially engaged andY pushed by the means on f the vehicle crossing the intersection. Y

4. 1n a switch of the type described for use with railway crossings having an electrically energized signal circuit, comprising'a xed base having a raised annular flange on its upper face and havi ing an undulating upper face formed with two Y low points and two high points diametricallyV opposed to each other, contact elements at .the low points,A electric terminals connecting-the opposed contact elements, a movable member above Y said base and having a pivot passing downwardly gized signal circuit adapted to be operated by a Y `Contact means on a vehicle passing over the crossing, comprising a xed base element formed with an annular ange having an undulating upper face formed with two high points and two loWf points diametrically Vopposed to each other, conthrough the base between the contacts, a spring surrounding the* pivot below the base and normally forcing YtheV same downwardlyl arms'carried by said movable member and Vhaving V- shaped outer lower faces diametrica'lly opposed to each other, and a-V-'shaped contact element connecting the ends of twoopposed arms to 'automatically make or break the circuit when the arms are initially engaged and moved. Y

' Y J. REDDICK 

